I am pleased to
supply the quarterly report for October - December 2014, from the Royal Hutt
River Legion (RHRL) – 1st Barton Platoon.
In spite of their many responsibilities all members of the platoon, and
supporters, contributed to our priorities.
Sgt. Amanda Casselton has continued to make seniors her priority. Although
she was overseas for several weeks during this quarter she made time, before
and after her trip, to collect and wrap gifts for people in aged care.
Feedback from Amaroo Retirement Village, where we have been sending the
gifts, shows that Sgt. Casselton’s initiative is greatly appreciated by
staff and those residents who received gifts.
Cpl. Lisa “Aliyah” Oliver maintains a sympathetic interest in people with
mental illness. Although in an advanced state of pregnancy she helped to
collect and deliver magazines for the Mental Health Ward at the Armadale
Health Service. Since patients confined to the psychiatric ward have limited
recreational opportunities any materials, including magazines that provide
stimulation are welcome.
Ms. Jennifer Jenkins remains an enthusiastic supporter whose long term aim
is to join the unit. She donated toys and wrapping paper to Starick Services
and gifts and wrapping paper to Benevolent Hands for a refugees Christmas
party.
Ms. Pamela Searle fed 21 homeless people during the last quarter as well as
hosting an evening wrapping gifts for Starick Services. Sadly Ms. Searle has
indicated, that, due to family and financial commitments, she will not be
able to support the platoon during 2015. Her support over the last two years
is much appreciated and I hope that she will be able to return to supporting
our efforts in the future. .
Activities October to December 2014
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Arts
The unit posted information on the Western Australian Department of Culture
and the Arts grants for people wishing to attend the 2015 Australian Theatre
Forum in Sydney on WBHSN (Warren-Blackwood Human Services Network).
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Culturally & Linguistically Diverse
Australians
Capt. Barton posted a link to ABC News website Why Do Muslim Women Wear a
Burka, Niqab or Hijab? on the WA Information Network (WAIN) and WBHSN.
Feedback was extremely positive.
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Domestic Violence
Cpt. Barton and Sgt. Casselton met with Ms. Pamela Searle to pool and wrap
Christmas gifts for Starick Services. The gifts were donated by Cpt. Barton,
Sgt. Casselton, Cpl. Oliver, Ms. Jennifer Jenkins and Ms. Pamela Searle.
This is the third year that the Platoon has provided Christmas gifts to
Starick Services, verbal feedback from staff is highly positive.
Ms. Searle donated toiletries to Perth Woman’s Refuge.
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Families
Ms. Searle donated toys to the Red Cross Christmas Appeal and the Salvation
Army Christmas Appeal.
Ms. Searle donated linen to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
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Health
Cpt. Barton visited a resident of Northcliff staying at the Redemptionest
Monastery in North Perth while recovering from surgery. Cpt. Barton brought
magazines donated by Sgt. Casselton and ½ Kg of mulberries picked by Cpl.
Oliver.
Sgt. Casselton donated a copy of The Art of Happiness; A Handbook for Living
by H.H. the Dali Lama to the Mental Health unit of the Armadale Health
Service.
Cpt. Barton and Cpl. Oliver donated a copy of Fakes and Forgeries by Emma
Dickens to the Manjimup Red Cross. A letter from the Manjimup Red Cross,
thanking the Platoon for its support arrived shortly before Christmas,
having been sent care of the Principality.
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton and Cpl. Oliver donated 10 copies of Dance
Australia, 40 issues of National Geographic, provided by Small Kindness and
20 copies of New Scientist, donated by Ms. Georgy Hadwin to the Mental
Health Unit of the Armadale Health Service.
Cpt. Barton and Sgt. Casselton donated copies of Bookforum, The Big Issue,
The Economist, Policy, Skeptical Inquirer, The Spectator, The Warcry and The
Weekend Australian Magazine to Manjimup Medical Centre.
Ms. Searle donated tea and coffee to the North Perth Chapter of Alcoholics
Anonymous.
Ms. Searle donated quality used household items to the Jane McGrath
Foundation.
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Homeless People
Cpt Barton and Ms Searle provided food to 36 homeless people in inner city
Perth.
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Libraries
The unit posted “The Future of the Book; From Papyrus to Pixels” (The
Economist, 11th October 2014, Vol. 413 No. 8908) on WAIN.
Cpt Barton and Cpl Oliver donated the winter 2014 issue of Policy, published
by the Centre for Independent Studies, to the Shire of Manjimup Public
Library.
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton and Cpl. Oliver donated the October, November
and December 2014 – January 2015 issues of The Monthly to the Shire of
Manjimup Public Library.
Cpt. Barton and Sgt. Casselton donated Quarterly Essay 56 Clivosaurus; The
Politics of Clive Palmer to the Shire of Manjimup Public Library.
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton and Cpl. Oliver distributed National and State
Libraries Commemorate WWI and the ANZAC Centenary bookmarks through
Australian Arab Institute of Strategic Affairs; Comic Zone; Ferndale
Playgroup; Lovely Nails Perth; Manjimup Branch Country Woman’s Association (CWA)
and Mickel Smits Stamps and Coins.
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Literacy
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton, Cpl. Oliver, Ms. Jenkins and Ms, Searle
provided an Indonesian Migrant learning English with links to online
resources and a booklist.
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton and Cpl. Oliver donated copies of R. L.
Stevenson’s short story The Pavilion on the Links, Sara Paretsky’s A Taste
of Life and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Man With the Twisted Lip to an
Indonesian Migrant learning English.
Cpt. Barton responded to a request, posted on WAIN, for information on
English Language textbooks by posting information on the Carley and Kumar
English readers.
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Refugees
Cpt. Barton and Sgt. Casselton placed a box in the State Records Office of
Western Australia with a request that staff donate toys for the Benevolent
Hands Christmas party.
Jennifer Jenkins donated a box of toys for Benevolent Hands.
Cpt. Barton and Sgt. Casselton donated a copy of Australian Folklaw by Bill
Beatty to the Tribal Refugee Welfare of WA to use as a prize at their
fundraising dinner.
Cpt. Barton provided secretarial support for Benevolent Hands.
Sgt. Casselton donated fruit mince pies to Benevolent Hands Christmas party
for refugees.
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton and Cpl. Oliver distributed Benevolent Hands
Calendars to businesses and community organizations.
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Seniors
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton and Cpl. Oliver donated birthday gifts to 19
socially isolated seniors at Amaroo Retirement Village.
Cpt Barton, Cpl. Oliver took two large print books, donated by Ms. Jenkins,
to the Amaroo Retirement Village Library.
Cpt. Barton, Sgt. Casselton and Cpl. Oliver sent Christmas cards to a
dementia patient whose family had posted a request on Facebook for people to
send her cards.
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Unemployed People
Sgt. Casselton posted a lost health care card to it’s owner along with five
National and State Libraries Commemorate WWI and the ANZAC Centenary
bookmarks.
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Priorities for 1st Quarter 2015
• Continue to provide gifts for seniors.
• Continue to provide appropriate books and periodicals to libraries,
hospitals, doctors surgeries, retirement villages and other community
organizations.
• Continue to support refugees.
• Continue to provide food for homeless people.
• Meet in February to consider priorities for 2015.
• Recruitment.
This concludes my report for the final quarter 2014. |
Yours in HRH service
Captain Sir Richard
Ananda Barton K.C.O.W.L.
1st Barton
Platoon
Royal Hutt River Legion
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